_edited.png)
Cheetah Plains Debuts Private Photographic Safari with Francois Fourie and Refreshed Goodman Gallery Collection
Offering Guests an Opportunity to Create and Observe Art in the African Bush
Sabi Sand, South Africa (June 09, 2026): Cheetah Plains, home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, has unveiled a new private Photographic Safari experience led by accomplished wildlife photographer Francois Fourie. From June 2026 through May 31, 2027, guests are invited to engage with the wild as either a collector or creator of art through a highly personalized photographic journey. The launch follows a May 2026 property-wide art collection refresh by the renowned Goodman Gallery, providing a whole new lens from which to experience the South African bush.
Led by Fourie, the experience is designed for both aspiring photographers and guests wishing to capture their time on property in a personal, natural and permanent way. Whether documenting quiet moments within the luxury villas, the evolving atmosphere of the bush, or the dramatic wildlife encounters that unfold daily, the safari offers a refined and highly personalized way to remember Cheetah Plains.
To accommodate varying preferences, Cheetah Plains offers two bespoke paths for the experience, each customized according to the guest's level of interest and skill.
The Passive Art Experience: Capturing the Moment
For guests wishing to remain fully present in the moment and take in the surroundings, Fourie may accompany them throughout their stay to capture candid, natural and styled imagery of their safari experience—from game drives to lodge moments and the intricate details that make each journey unique. Guests return home with a curated digital collection that beautifully reflects their time in the wild.
The Active Art Experience: Becoming the Artist
For guests who prefer to step behind the lens, the experience transforms into a hands-on, guided wildlife photography session. During private game drives and selected lodge experiences, Fourie offers expert mentorship in composition, lighting, camera mechanics and visual storytelling, empowering guests to capture wildlife and the surrounding landscape with newfound confidence and intention.
The photographic safari is a private add-on experience that can be tailored and arranged prior to arrival, subject to availability and operational scheduling. Guests may participate in an optional pre-arrival consultation to align the itinerary with their creative vision and level of experience, ensuring a personalized approach. All imagery is approached with discretion, sensitivity and respect for the privacy of each guest. Final image collections are professionally edited and delivered digitally, creating an enduring visual record of the safari experience.
Francois Fourie brings more than 16 years of elite experience in the African bush to this collaboration. As a qualified FGASA Assessor, Professional Field Guide and Mentor, Fourie possesses a rare combination of technical expertise, intuitive guiding and a profound understanding of wildlife behavior. His deep familiarity with the terrain allows him to position guests for a flawless shot while building a meaningful connection to the surrounding ecosystem.
Expanding the Living Canvas: The Goodman Gallery Collection Refresh
The photographic safari complements Cheetah Plains' broader commitment to art and cultural storytelling. In 2024, Cheetah Plains and Goodman Gallery launched a pioneering art experience, the first of its kind in the South African bush, introducing a curated art space and bespoke display of contemporary artworks integrated throughout its villas. As the first carbon-negative lodge in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, the property provides a powerful context for reflecting on humanity's relationship to land, resources and ecological interdependence.
In May 2026, Goodman Gallery refreshed the entire collection, debuting striking new works, site-responsive installations and curated exhibitions by leading South African and international artists whose practices engage themes of land, extraction, materiality and memory. Each exclusive-use villa functions as a living gallery space, and resident guests are invited to enjoy a private art tour of the curated works within their own villa, followed by a guided walking tour of the broader collection. This rotating program highlights significant African artists' work from the 1970s to the present day. Access to the gallery spaces is reserved solely for guests staying at Cheetah Plains.
Bookings and Reservations:
The Cheetah Plains Photographic Safari is available exclusively to guests as a private add-on. Due to operational scheduling and limited availability, advanced pre-arrival booking is highly recommended. For reservations visit www.cheetahplains.com or contact reservations@cheetahplains.com or +27 79 694 8430. For more information visit https://www.cheetahplains.com/experiences/.
Cheetah Plains:
Opened in 2018, Cheetah Plains is home to the exclusive-use luxury villa and sustainable safari experience nestled in South Africa’s most celebrated wildlife area, the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve. The eco-luxe experience includes three private villas with four guest bush suites that accommodate up to eight guests each with its own formal lounge, living and dining areas, expansive swimming pool, and outdoor deck that operates off-grid. Each villa comes with a complete hospitality team consisting of an accomplished host, butler, culinary team, and spa therapist, as well as an expert field guide and tracker dedicated to you for the duration of your stay. Families and children of all ages are welcome to experience their own personalized safari, guided bush walks, wellness offerings, fitness gym, and tailored activities for kids. Cheetah Plains sets the standard in South Africa for zero-emission game-viewing utilizing its own fleet of solar-charged Land Cruiser Electric Safari vehicles. A luxury sustainable safari that is beyond expectations.
